8-01-2023 9:15am

Self-Empowerment

Christine Larkin Editor

SKYLARK'S ARTICLE OF THE WEEK - SELF-EMPOWERMENT

It's never too late to empower yourself. Potenzia te stesso. You know how I love to throw in some Italian. I digress. Self-empowerment can mean many things, but basically, it's all about self-care and self-improvement. What we think, we become. So empower your thoughts. The beauty of being human is that we can reinvent ourselves at any stage of our lives.

Self-empowerment means making a conscious decision to take charge of your destiny. Destino. It involves making positive choices, taking action to advance, and being confident in your ability to make and execute decisions. Self-empowered people understand their strengths and weaknesses and are motivated to learn and achieve.

Taking proactive steps toward a goal is essential to make things happen. If you’re striving to attain personal empowerment, focus on your drive, identify what you can control, and keep an objective, goal-oriented mindset. The following seven tips can help you achieve self-empowerment.

Develop a Positive Attitude

People who believe they control their own destiny rather than giving in to external concepts such as fate, luck, or circumstance are more likely to take charge of their future. Cultivate a positive attitude and outlook by evaluating your strengths and weaknesses, pursuing your passions, and trusting in your ability.

Set Reasonable Goals

Measurable, achievable goals are an important component of self-empowerment, and understanding how to set them can help you feel good about your achievements. If you want to run a marathon, start with smaller, increasing distances rather than trying to run 10 miles on day one. I'm not a runner. I prefer walking. Walking can be just as effective to overall well-being and, and it's easier on a body that's 60 and beyond.

Surround Yourself with Positive People

Laughter is contagious and so are pessimism and negativity. Surrounding yourself with like-minded, motivated people can help you feel empowered to achieve your goals. If your self-esteem takes a blow, schedule time with positive friends, peers, and family members. Experiencing their positivity can improve your mental well-being, minimize your negativity, and empower yourself to follow your dreams. Dreams do come true!

Practice Self-Care

Self-care includes any activity that you do for yourself to feel happy and healthy. It can include everything from eating right and exercising to treating yourself to a mani-pedi, or, in my case, an ice-cream cone. Once in a while. Scheduling time to relax and rejuvenate will make you more productive. Additionally, being kind to yourself can help you be confident in your ability to address and overcome hardship. Loving yourself is very important. You are your greatest love.

Use Positive Self-Talk

This is one of my favorite tips to self-empowerment. It can make a big difference in how you see things. Focus on what you can do as opposed to what you can’t do. Make sure you know your abilities and limits when you are starting something new. Don't overwhelm yourself. Take small steps and eventually, you'll get there.

Be Assertive

People who strive toward personal empowerment must be comfortable expressing their thoughts, ideas, and needs. For example, if you’re invited to a party and you have a commitment the following morning, it's alright to let the host know you’ll be leaving early instead of them thinking you're not having a good time. If you're in a relationship, it's important to say how you feel no matter what the situation is. Assert yourself. It's okay. You matter.

Create an Action List or a To Do List

Empowered people take action, exhibit a growth mindset, and are comfortable learning and developing their abilities. They also understand that success does not come overnight but is a culmination of decisions and actions. I went back to college at the age of 62. It's a different ball game at this age because most of us have many other responsibilities and some of us are still working full-time. An action plan and a to-do list are great tools to help you pace yourself and stay focused. Write it down.

People who consciously decide to take control of their lives are often happier, more fulfilled, and more satisfied in themselves. Taking steps to live a life that you design offers numerous benefits. I often talk about mental health. I think self-empowerment can ward off feeling sad, depressed, or lonely as we age. Self-empowerment will help you in many areas of your life. What's your super empowerment? Qual e il tuo super potere?

Pace e amore. Peace and Love.

Skylark

At 60 and Beyond, self-empowerment can add meaningful years to your life.

SKYLARK'S PICK OF THE WEEK - SHINNECOCK INLET WEST

On a recent Friday, we took a ride out to Shinnecock Inlet West. There's a beach here that doesn't have any lifeguards. It's a big, open space that winds along in a horse-shoe shape as it heads east. We love it here. It's never crowded, and you see some very cool things like kite-flying, Black Hawk helicopters, hang-gliders, fisherman, sail boats, and, if you're lucky, you might spot a whale or dolphin off shore. There are surfers, too. Hang 10! The Shinnecock Nation owns this land. To me, it is sacred ground.

The Shinnecock Inlet West was created by a bad mood of Mother Nature. Yet with all the homes destroyed and lives lost, Mother Nature eventually showed her softer side by revamping Long Island’s 100-mile barrier beach with some fancy carving of breaches along the barrier island, giving the south shore a bit of respite with fresh, clean ocean water that stood stagnant for centuries. Although most of the breaches have re-sealed themselves through the years, one that was created by the storm and has stood the test of time is Shinnecock Inlet, where each season sees a myriad of sea life entering and departing this piece of water.

Shinnecock Inlet connects Shinnecock Bay to the ocean. The entrance channel is roughly 10 feet deep and 200 feet wide. The inlet from one end to the other is approximately 0.7 miles long, 300 yards wide with water depth averaging 20 to 40 feet to the bottom. Large flat boulders line both the east and west sides of the inlet to help prevent erosion. Although the inlet was dredged in 2010, it sits adjacent to much shoaling just alongside the channel. These elements opened the gates for plenty of top notch fishing as strong currents and tidal clashes blended with the shallow water creating rips that set up the perfect points of ambush for a host of gamefish and bottom dwellers.

Shinnecock Inlet West is easily accessible by car with ample parking that is close to both the inlet and the beach. It sits at the eastern end of Dune Road in Hampton Bays, less than a mile east of the Ponquogue Bridge. It's the perfect respite. You feel free here. When your appetite kicks in, there are two great restaurants to choose from. Oaklands and Sunday's are a walk away. They both have great food and even better views. This is a part of Long Island not to be missed this summer.

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SKYLARK'S INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"Men at sometime are masters of their fates. The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings."

- William Shakespeare

SKYLARK'S QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What's your super empowerment?

Please let me know in the Reply section below. I'd love to hear from you.

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SKYLARK'S SONG OF THE WEEK - ROCKY

EMPOWERING LYRICS

Tryin' hard now, it's so hard now
Tryin' hard now

Feelin' strong now, won't be long now
Feelin' strong now

Gonna fly now, flying high now
Gonna fly, fly, fly

Feelin' strong now, won't be long now
Feelin' strong now

Gonna fly now, flying high now
Gonna fly, fly, fly

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My brand, Skylark Live, consists of a weekly newsletter, Skylark Live Town News, a monthly vlog, 60 and Beyond with Skylark, and monthly in-person chats called The Skylark Sessions. They are all designed to inspire and motivate women to thrive in older age through knowledge and self-awareness at 60 and beyond. Andiamo! Let's go!

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